The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-04

"Do you really mean" began
Maud.
Certainly, l must insist, il you
please. III stay here until you give
me the word"
"De quick, Maud" whispered Mrs.
Estabrook, very distrustiul OF this
extraordinary burglar. "The man is
either criminal or n lunatic. Run
and turn the key child before he
changes his mind"
Thus urged, the girl made another
sor.ie. Once more the key clicked in
the lock, their prisoner waI heard to
cross the floor and then all was silence
again.
Not for long, however. Suddenly
there was q confused clamor at the
outside door, while the bell pea.ed
londly through the honse. Maud and
her mother sprang up and laced each
other.
"That man back again?" faltered
Mrs. Eastbrook.
40 mamma, mol" said Maud reas-
suringly.
"a burglar would never ring the bell.
Why IT'S Toni" she cried, with sudden
conviction. ats my brother come
home" she repeated rs voice from
the next room was heard, with renew
ed proifers OF assistance.
Tom it was indeed, and very anx-
ious about the safety OF the household.
As the brother and sister met in the
gray Of the early dawn he hastily ex-
planned how, having called in to see
Amelia, she had given him no
peace until he promised to
return ut once to The Willows;
how he had done so, in some vexa-
ton at what he considered her fussi-
ness, until everything had suddenly
been driven out OF his MUD by the
sight OF n blood-stain on the piazza.
At which Maud shuddered, and was
about to relate her version OF the
nights adventures, when Mrs. Esta-
brooks voice was heard in reproach-
ful accents from above. They has
tened upstairs, and found the poor
lady inclined to Mysteries at being lett
alone She began an incoherent story
in which Peter and the burglar were
iumbled, to Toms bewilderment.
"But who winged the burglar, them"
ne asked. "Was it you, Maui?"
"Hush-sh" breathed his mother,
with warning finger appraised. "He's
IN there, you know"
"In there! why, | thought you said
he was gone? And what on earth is
Pater in there tor?
"No, no, not Peter, the-the burglar
-"
"Tho burglarl" Tom jumped up
"You don mean you've trapped the
fellow? Bravo" And he was hurrying
to the door, when his sister laid a
hand on his arm.
80, wait, Tom" she SAID. "rhati Is
the oldest part OF it all. "And she
told the tale OF their strange guest
at doesn't seem like his being a burg
/ lar, but don't think he can be in his
right mind" she concluded.
"By Jovel | should say notl Want
e1 to be locked up again? Why, the
man must be u first-cass crank. Well,
| I'll have look at him."
He left the room, and the two WON
EN- heard the key turn in the lock
They held their breath to listen, but
all they could distinguish in the next
room was confused sound OF voices
and laughter. Presently Tom came
back, accompanied by the suppose
/ tious burglar.
"My mother and sister, Mr. Fol
lott, - said Tom, with wave OF his
hand and q twinkle OF his eye
"Mother, this is my friend Mr.. Fol
lott, who seems to think there is
some mystery that needs clearing NJ
Go ahead, Folliott, your turn first
concluded Tom, with " grin, as he
dropped into n seat
Thereupon Mr.. Folliott explained
that, in the course OF his pedestrian
tour, it occurred to him to look up q
friend who was making short stay
somewhere in that neighborhood. Ihis
friends name was Estabrook-Georgt
Estabrook, not Tonne had not
known that Tom Estabrook lived II
that locality.
"But you'd be likely TO know it an
other time" put in Tom, with great
enjoyment.
Mr.. Folliott, continuing, said tha'
his happening to mistake the place
had led to the whole subsequent com
edy OF errors. He apologized for hav
ing accepted their hospitality unde
false pretenses, and remarked that HI
had made several Intellectual efforts t.
place himself in his true colors. Whei
he realized the position, after beinl
locked in, rs he felt convinced that hi
explanations would not be credited
he thought he might as well accept tn
situation with what philosophy h
could muster, until the march OF event
should right him again.
"Now for our side" said Tom, whel
! -. ., 50. $40. d. Go;sha1 ttNTot hpf. yhnr